TechCrunch stumbled upon San Francisco’s Moscone West from October 27th to 29th in 2025, bringing together over 10,000 startups and VC leaders for three days of bold ideas, groundbreaking technology and future-style conversations. One of the most anticipated sessions taking place in one of the two AI stages introduces autonomous systems that illuminate the location of where AI hardware is heading for, pushing robotics and autonomous systems in real time.
AI may be reshaping software, but when it comes to robotics and autonomous systems, the big breakout moments are still on the horizon. That’s what makes this session at TechCrunch so compelling in 2025. Waabi founder and CEO Raquel Urtasun and Apptronik co-founder and CEO Jeff Cardenas are joining forces on the AI stage to talk about what it takes to move intelligence behind the wheel or on two feet.
AI meets real-world physics
This conversation is divided into complex systems that enhance self-driving cars and humanoid robots, and is necessary to safely scale simulations, sensors and software infrastructure. Both Waabi and Apptronik are pushing the limits of what is possible in the physical world. When confused, they walk us through breakthroughs and bottlenecks that shape the next generation of intelligent machines.
Why this session is important
While AI has already changed the way it builds, ships, and moves, physical deployments bring unique sets of constraints and opportunities. Expect a grounded, positive discussion of how smartest robots and autonomous driving platforms are realising and what it means for the future of industry, labor and infrastructure.
Catch Raquel Urtasun and Jeff Cardenas on TechCrunch’s AI stage, destroying 2025, and will take place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27th to 29th. Sign up now to join over 10,000 startups and VC leaders, saving up to $668 before prices go up.
